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Virunga National Park is located in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and comprises the most biologically diverse protected area on the continent (Virunga National Park n.d.). The national park was first established in 1925 as Albert National Park. In 1960, following the country's independence from Belgium, it was renamed Virunga National Park. In 1979 the site was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (UNESCO 2021).The park is unique with its active chain of volcanoes and rich diversity of habitats. Its range contains an amalgamation of steppes, savannas and plains, marshlands, low altitude and afro-montane forest belts to unique afro-alpine vegetation and permanent glaciers and snow on Monts Rwenzori whose peaks reach in 5,000 m height ([https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/63/ UNESCO]). The park is home to 218 mammal species, 706 bird species, 109 reptile species and 78 amphibian species (Virunga National Park n.d.). It also serves as refuge to 22 primate species, including mountain gorillas (''Gorilla beringei beringei''), the eastern lowland or Grauer's gorilla (''Gorilla beringei graueri'') and the eastern chimpanzee (''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''). A third of the world's mountain gorilla population is found in the park. The density of biomass of wildlife is one of the highest on the earth Planet (27.6 ton/sq.km). Among the wide diversity of ungulates found at the site, certain rare species are found, such as the okapi (''Okapi johnstoni''), endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the red forest duiker (''Cephalophus rubidus''), endemic to Monts Rwenzori (Virunga National Park n.d.). The site is a Key Biodiversity Area owing to its global importance to the planet’s overall health and wealth in biodiversity (Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership 2020).

Virunga National Park is located in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and comprises the most biologically diverse protected area on the continent (Virunga National Park n.d.). The national park was first established in 1925 as Albert National Park. In 1960, following the country's independence from Belgium, it was renamed Virunga National Park. In 1979 the site was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (UNESCO 2021).The park is unique with its active chain of volcanoes and rich diversity of habitats. Its range contains an amalgamation of steppes, savannas and plains, marshlands, low altitude and afro-montane forest belts to unique afro-alpine vegetation and permanent glaciers and snow on Monts Rwenzori whose peaks reach in 5,000 m height ([https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/63/ UNESCO]). The park is home to 218 mammal species, 706 bird species, 109 reptile species and 78 amphibian species (Virunga National Park n.d.). It also serves as refuge to 22 primate species, including mountain gorillas (''Gorilla beringei beringei''), the eastern lowland or Grauer's gorilla (''Gorilla beringei graueri'') and the eastern chimpanzee (''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''). A third of the world's mountain gorilla population is found in the park. The density of biomass of wildlife is one of the highest on the earth Planet (27.6 ton/sq.km). Among the wide diversity of ungulates found at the site, certain rare species are found, such as the okapi (''Okapi johnstoni''), endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the red forest duiker (''Cephalophus rubidus''), endemic to Monts Rwenzori (Virunga National Park n.d.). The site is a Key Biodiversity Area owing to its global importance to the planet’s overall health and wealth in biodiversity (Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership 2020).

'''Table 1. Basic site information for Virunga National Park'''

'''Table 1. Basic site information for Virunga National Park'''

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